Side rail pad/panel system for patient support apparatus

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to occlude openings and spaces of side rails are provided. One embodiment includes a pad body panel having attachment openings each defining a pivot axis. The embodiment includes follower slots in the pad body panel each to receive a bracket pivot of a pivot arm, each follower slot having a configuration centered on the attachment opening of the pivot axis.

1. A side rail assembly, comprising:
 a pad body panel having a first attachment opening defining a first pivot axis and a second attachment opening defining a second pivot axis; 
 a first follower slot in the pad body panel configured to receive a first bracket pivot of a first pivot arm, the first follower slot having a configuration centered on the first attachment opening of the first pivot axis; and 
 a second follower slot in the pad body panel configured to receive a second bracket pivot of a second pivot arm, the second follower slot in the pad body panel having a configuration centered on the second attachment opening of the second pivot axis, 
 wherein the configuration for the first follower slot and the second follower slot is semi-circular. 
 
   
   
     2. The side rail assembly of  claim 1 , including a cover disk coupled to the pad body panel through the first pivot axis, the cover disk having a notch that aligns with the first follower slot to receive the first bracket pivot of the first pivot arm. 
   
   
     3. The side rail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pad body panel includes one or more extensions, and one or more indentations. 
   
   
     4. The side rail assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more extensions, and the one or more indentations are symmetrically configured along a longitudinal axis extending through the first and second attachment openings of the pad body panel. 
   
   
     5. The side rail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second follower slots in the pad body panel are symmetrically configured along a first longitudinal axis extending through the first and second attachment openings of the pad body panel. 
   
   
     6. The side rail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pad body panel includes an extension having a predetermined axis around which the extension can be bent relative other portions of the pad body panel. 
   
   
     7. The side rail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pad body panel includes a circular depression into which the first bracket arm extends and mounts at the first attachment opening. 
   
   
     8. The side rail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pad body panel includes a removable edge cap that partially defines a portion of the first follower slot. 
   
   
     9. An apparatus, comprising: a bed frame;
 a side rail pivotally attached to the bed frame through a first bracket pivot and a second bracket pivot of an arm assembly, the first bracket pivot defining a first pivot axis and the second bracket pivot defining a second pivot axis,
 the side rail operable to move relative the bed frame; 
 a movable side rail assembly adjacent the side rail, the movable side rail assembly having: 
 
 a pad body panel with a first attachment opening defining a third pivot axis and a second attachment opening defining a fourth pivot axis
 the third pivot axis being spaced apart from the first pivot axis on the arm assembly, and the fourth pivot axis being spaced apart from the second pivot axis on the arm assembly; and 
 a first follower slot in the panel body configured to receive the first bracket pivot of the arm assembly, the first follower slot having a configuration centered on the third pivot axis of the first attachment opening; 
 a second follower slot in the panel body configured to receive the second bracket pivot of the arm assembly, the second follower slot having a configuration centered on the fourth pivot axis of second attachment opening; 
 where the side rail is configured to move about the first pivot axis as the first bracket pivot moves in the first follower slot while the pad body panel rotates about the third pivot axis, 
 and where the side rail is configured to move about the second pivot axis as the second bracket moves in the second follower slot while the pad body panel rotates about the fourth pivot axis. 
 
 
   
   
     10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pad body panel and the side rail both move together relative the bed frame between a lowered position to an elevated position. 
   
   
     11. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus includes a first opening between the side rail and a different side rail positioned on a same side of the bed frame, and wherein the apparatus includes a second opening between the side rail and a head board, and wherein the apparatus includes a third opening between the side rail and a support surface positioned on the bed frame, the pad body panel at least partially occluding the first, second, and third openings. 
   
   
     12. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the movable side rail assembly includes a cover disk coupled to the pad body panel through the first attachment opening of the second pivot axis, the cover disk having a notch that aligns with the first follower slot to receive the first bracket pivot of the arm assembly. 
   
   
     13. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pad body panel includes one or more extensions, and one or more indentations, where the one or more extensions, the one or more indentations, and the first and second follower slots are symmetrically configured along a longitudinal axis extending through the first and second attachment openings of the pad body panel. 
   
   
     14. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein pad body panel includes an extension having a predetermined axis around which the extension can be bent relative other portions of the pad body panel. 
   
   
     15. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the configuration for the first follower slot is semi-circular. 
   
   
     16. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the pad body panel includes a removable edge cap that partially defines a portion of the first follower slot.